Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Brady
Lowe began Cochon 555 five
years ago right here in Atlanta to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed
pigs. Stopping in 10 cities across the United States, the culinary competition
and tasting event is returning home to Atlanta with a stop at the Sheraton
Atlanta Downtown on Sunday, February 17. Joe Schafer of King + Duke is one
of the five chefs preparing a snout-to-tail menu using one of five pigs in the
pork-centric competition. The lineup of 20 event judges includes Gerry Klaskala
of Aria, Ford
Fry ofJCT.
Kitchen & Bar,No.
246
andThe
Optimist, Drew
Van Leuven ofSeven
Lamps and
Chad Clevenger ofAlma
Cocina.
Guests and judges will determine the “best bite of the day” and send the winner
on to the June 16 Grand Cochon competition at the FOOD & WINE Classic in
Aspen, Colo. Seven Lamps Mixologist Arianne Fielder will compete against five
other mixologists in the new “Punch Kings” cocktail competition open to VIP
guests. All guests will pig out on pork and sample five bourbons in addition to
the wines from five family wineries. And there’s more action in the pen: a
butcher demonstration from Rusty Bowers of Pine Street Market, a raffle,
ice-cold brews and a champagne toast, Fernet Branca digestifs and pork-spiked
desserts. VIP ($200/person) admitted at 4 p.m.; general admission ($125/person)
at 5 p.m. Purchase tickets online.